Device for removing golf balls from golf cups

ABSTRACT

A non-impact golf ball remover device is provided. The non-impact golf ball remover is adapted to form a floating engagement between a flagstick and a ball tray for removing golf balls from the golf cup by lifting the flag stick, while the floating engagement prevents damage to the edge of the hole when replacing the flag stick and the engaged ball tray back in the golf cup. The present invention contemplates the flagstick being laid on the green during the putting process by some golfers who choose to putt with the flagstick out, as the floating engagement disposes the ball tray at a transverse relationship with the lain flag stick, cushioning the green from the ferrule of the flag stick.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/845,652 filed 9 May 2019, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to golf accessories and, more particularly, to a non-impact golf ball remover device designed to “float” freely (not attached or constrained) on the flagstick. The need for this device was necessitated by a change in the Rules of Golf which allows for the Golfer to putt with the flagstick in the hole. The device protects the edge of the hole (preventing damage to the hole) when pulling the flagstick up to retrieve the ball and when replacing the flagstick as the device weighs less than an ounce and most importantly “floats” on the flagstick, and so the device slides up the flag stick. And when the flagstick is seated in the bottom of the cup the device settles itself at the bottom of the cup due to gravity. Further, should the golfer prefer to putt with the flagstick out, it can be laid on the surface of the green. This cradles the heavy part of the flagstick (ferrule) and keeps it from the surface of the green.

With this Rule change, most Golfers today typically putt with the flagstick in the hole, and then they reach into the hole/cup to retrieve their ball with their bare or gloved hand, an attachment to the putter grip or use their putter to scoop their ball out of the hole/cup.

Current purposeful golf ball ejectors devices do not contemplate or appreciate the totality of the ball-retrieving process. The process of retrieving the ball from the hole/cup involves separate and distinct steps: pulling the flagstick from the to retrieve the ball, replacing the flagstick and laying the flagstick on the green prior to putting and then replacing the flagstick. Each of the steps must be addressed and many current devices do not deal with the complete process.

Moreover, current golf-ball retrieving devices are made of a hard plastic/polymer which can damage the edge of the hole or the green. Most are in some way secured to the flag stick or ferrule enabling damage due to impact to the hole or green when removing and replacing the flag stick and such a device generally fixedly connected contacts the green or the periphery of the golf hole. In short, from a functionality standpoint, current solutions are poorly designed and, upon testing, fail.

As can be seen, there is a need for a non-impact golf ball remover device adapted to engage the flagstick in such a way as to prevent the edge of the hole when replacing the flagstick or when laying the flagstick on the green. As a corollary, the present invention provides a method for the golfer to retrieve their ball after putting out without damaging the hole when pulling and replacing the flag stick from the cup and laying the flagstick on the green.

The present invention enables the golfer to lift the flag stick straight up to a height where they can retrieve their ball without bending over or reaching into the hole/cup with their hand or have to employ an attachment to the grip end of their putter or by attempting to scoop the ball out with their putter.

The present invention embodies a light-weight device forming a floating engagement with the bottom portion of the flag stick in such a way that when replacing the flag stick in the golf hole the “floating” device freely “gives” upon impact with the green and/or golf hole, mitigating damage thereto. Likewise, the present invention acts to cushion the flag stick and props the ferrule (heavy part on bottom of flagstick) off the green when the flag stick is laid on the green (some golfers choose to putt with the flag stick out).

The present invention is a one-piece universal fit (no small parts to lose or break) made of a soft and flexible thermoplastic rubber, or equivalent. The present invention is designed to not be attached or constrained to the flagstick rather it “floats” on the flagstick—preventing any damage to the hole should the golfer inadvertently make contact with the edge of the hole while replacing the flag stick.

Furthermore, the design of the invention allows for messaging—e.g., generic golfing statements, logos, or advertising messaging, as well as displaying various colors. Additionally, the device can be manufactured in colors to identify and support the needs of a variety of organizations the golf course might support.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a ball removal device that “floats” on the flagstick includes the following: a tray having a tray circumference less than that of said hole; the opening (center hole on the device) is between thirty-five and sixty-five percent greater than the diameter of the flagstick or greater; three openings (which serve as drainage openings as well) on an upward-facing side of the tray wherein each cradle is dimensioned to maintain the ball a predefined distance from the flagstick opening; and an upward flange.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of preventing damage to a periphery of a golf hole and surrounding golf green includes sliding the above-mentioned ball removal device down a flag stick until the ball removal device seats itself on a ferrule of flag stick.

In another aspect of the present invention, a ball removal device forming a floating engagement with a pole in a hole includes the following: a tray having a tray circumference less than that of said hole; a pole aperture dimensioned to have an aperture diameter thirty-five to sixty-five percent greater than that of said pole; and one or more cradles on an upward-facing side of the tray, wherein each cradle is dimensioned to maintain the ball a predefine distance from the pole aperture, whereby the tray is not connected to the pole and thereby floats relative thereto; an upward-facing flange defining the pole aperture, wherein each cradle is a substantially a void, and wherein the aperture diameter, in one embodiment, is fifty percent greater than that of said pole.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown on a flagstick 14 and resting in a golf hole 12;

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating removal from the golf hole 12 by lifting the flagstick 14;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an exploded section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown being removed from the golf hole 12;

FIG. 7A is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the flagstick 14 being replaced into the golf hole 12, with device 10 moving on the flagstick 14 when striking the green 16 and/or golf hole 12 periphery;

FIG. 7B is a continuation of the section view of FIG. 7A, illustrating the device 10 moving freely (“floating”) on the flag stick 14 as it goes further in the hole;

FIG. 7C is continuation of the section view of FIG. 7B, illustrating the device 10 settling into position as the pole 14 is fully placed into hole 12, without having damaging green 16;

FIG. 8 is perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a user 24 retrieving a ball 18; and

FIG. 9 is an elevation view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the flag stick 14 laying on the green 16 with the device 10 cushioning the green 16 from the ferrule 26 of the flag stick 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a non-impact golf ball remover device adapted to form a floating engagement between a flagstick and a ball tray for removing golf balls from the golf cup by lifting the flagstick, while the floating engagement prevents damage to the edge of the hole when replacing the flag stick and the engaged ball tray back into the golf cup. The present invention contemplates the flag stick being laid down on the green during the putting process, as the floating engagement disposes the ball tray at a transverse relationship when the flagstick is laid on the green, giving way to and cushioning the green from the ferrule of the flag stick.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 9, the present invention may include a floating engagement between a ball tray 10 and a bottom portion of a flag stick 14. The ball tray 10 is dimensioned and adapted to have a tray periphery that is less than that of the periphery of a regulation golf hole 12. The ball tray 10 has a generally centrally disposed stick hole 20 for slidably receiving a bottom portion of a flag stick 14. The bottom portion may be adjacent to the ferrule 26 so that the ball tray 10 sits orthogonal to the flag stick 14 when the latter is properly secured with the golf hole 12.

The diameter of the center hole which accommodates the flagstick (20) is thirty-five to sixty-five percent greater than the diameter of the flagstick or larger hole 20 may have a 4 (e.g., a regulation ¾ inch 1 diameter flag stick 14) (e.g., a regulation ½″ flagstick in diameter (14). The stick hole 20 may be defined by an upward-oriented flange 21. The combination of the flagstick stick hole 20 diameter and the flange 21 enables a floating engagement between the ball tray 10 and the flag stick 14. Under the force of gravity, the stick hole 20 rests on the taper of the ferrule 26 but is unattached directly to the flag stick 14. As a result, the floating engagement allows the ball tray 10 to pivot about the flag stick 14 when urged to by contact with the green 16 or periphery of the golf hole 12, thereby giving way so as not to damage these portions of the edge of the hole or the green itself when removing or replacing the flag stick 14. Additionally, when laying the flag stick 14 on the green 16, the ball tray 10 pivots under the weight of the flag stick 14 in contact with the green 16, thereby lessening the impact upon such contact, while also completely preventing the ferrule 26 from impacting and damaging the green 16.

The ball tray 10 may be generally planar and provide a plurality of spaced apart cradles 22. Though in certain embodiments, the plurality of cradles 22 could be replaced with a connected trough or the like, as long as the cradle(s) 22 is(are) dimensioned and adapted to secure or at least maintain a regulation golf ball 18 a predefined radial distance from the center of the stick hole 20. The present invention may be made of light-weight, soft, flexible, resilient material, such as thermoplastic rubber, various plasticized material or the like so as to have a mass less than 1 oz.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The floating engagement between the ball tray 10 and a bottom portion of the flag stick 14 disclosed above may be provided. Or a user 24 may simply follow a four step process to enable the floating engagement so that the present invention functions as designed: first, remove the flag from the flagstick 14, slide the ball tray 10 down, by way of the stick hole 20, the flag stick 14 until the ball tray 10 sits on the ferrule 26, replace the flag and finally return the flag stick 14 to the hole/cup 12.

The inspiration for the present invention was due to the ongoing damage to the hole/cup caused by the new Golf Rule (13.2). This rule change had golfers reaching into the hole/cup in a variety of ways, all causing damage. To resolve this issue the user 24 would install the present invention as previously described and lift the flag stick 24 to remove the ball 18 maintained in one of the cradles 22. The user 24 may also now lay the flag stick 14 on the green during the putting process and worry less about damaging the green 16.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A ball removal device forming a floating engagement with a pole in a hole, comprising: a tray having a tray circumference less than that of said hole; a pole aperture dimensioned to have an aperture diameter thirty-five to sixty-five percent greater than that of said pole; and one or more cradles on an upward-facing side of the tray, wherein each cradle is dimensioned to maintain the ball a predefine distance from the pole aperture, whereby the tray is not connected to the pole and thereby floats relative thereto.
 2. The ball removal device of claim 1, further comprising: an upward-facing flange defining the pole aperture.
 3. The ball removal device of claim 2, wherein each cradle is a substantially a void.
 4. The ball removal device of claim 2, wherein the aperture diameter is fifty percent greater than that of said pole.
 5. A method of preventing damage to a periphery of a golf hole and surround golf green, comprising: sliding the ball removal device of claim 2 down said pole until the ball removal devices sits on a ferrule of said pole. 